Insider Blog

Its hard for me to understand why anyone would ever want to do anything besides soak up the sun all day at the beach! However I get that everyone’s different and you might be thinking what else could I do today while still enjoy the atmosphere of water, waves, and salty air. Good thing on St. Simons Island there is PLENTY of options to choose from. From ocean adventures to...

Are you stumped as to what to get Mom for Mother’s Day?! Good thing here on St. Simons Island there are so many great places to get some pretty awesome gifts for your special Mom! From weekend getaways, to jewelry, to a family meal we’ve got you covered. Who doesn’t want to spoil the woman who selflessly puts others first every other day of the year? This is her one...

The beautiful coastal town of St. Simons has been nominated by USA Today for Best Coastal Small Town 2016. With many local competitors like Fernandina Beach, FL, Beaufort, SC, Tybee Island, GA, competition is stiff. However anyone who has been to St. Simons knows its immaculate beauty that compares to no other place on this earth! There are 20 nominees from the west coast to the east coast, all with less than 25,000...

Have you always wanted to know the best spots in town to eat, those spots that only the locals know about? Now you can! We sat down with Chef Dave Synder, owner of Halyards and Tramici, two of St. Simons most popular dining spots! He filled us in on what brought him to St. Simons, what he loves most about the island, and what are his favorite things to eat....

On October 3, 2014, the Wall Street Journal released an article titled “Bargain Mansions: Luxury for Less” detailing markets where luxury buyers can find high-end homes in affordable cities. The homes profiled were in St. Louis, Detroit, Toledo and Brunswick, Georgia. As the WSJ author Adam Bonislawski says, “It isn’t news that money goes further in some real estate markets than others. Just how much further, though, can be striking.”...

Today is National Dog Appreciation Day and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than by taking your dog for a stroll on the beach. We are fortunate to have dog friendly beaches on East Beach, St. Simons Island. If we obey a few minor regulations, we can all have a great time! Understanding the regulations is key to a safe visit and avoiding ticketing and fines. PET FRIENDLY...

Not long ago, St. Simons Island was ranked #1 among “America’s Most Romantic Towns” in a Travel + Leisure Readers’ Poll. St. Simons “was a hit with readers in romance-friendly categories such as picnicking and charming cafés.” And now, USA Today seconds the motion! In an article published on July 10, 2014, USA Today names St. Simons Island among the “Most Romantic beaches in Georgia and the Carolinas.” Here’s what they have to say about St. Simons and our never-ending...

St. Simons Island has been filling up our trophy case lately! Travel + Leisure readers named St. Simons Island “America’s Favorite Beach Town” in their annual America’s Favorite Towns Survey. Coastal Living Magazine ranked St. Simons Island among “America’s Happiest Seaside Towns.” Travel + Leisure readers also named St. Simons Island “America’s Most Romantic Town.” While our destination is enjoying the limelight, Hodnett Cooper has some great news to report as well. Our locally-published magazine, Elegant Island Living, conducts...

Each year, Coastal Living Magazine starts out with a burning question: what are America’s Happiest Seaside Towns? All seaside towns are happy, right? I mean, they’re sitting right there by the sea! With a scientific approach, Coastal Living begins with empirical evidence including reader nominations and editors’ assessment of each town’s “coastal vibe.” Then they cross reference the data with measurable evidence including Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index categories including percentage of sunny...

Whether it’s your first time to St. Simons Island, or you visit every year, there’s always something new to discover! HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BRUNSWICK Once you’ve combed the beaches, found the tree spirits and climbed the lighthouse, you might want to head over the bridge to Historic Downtown Brunswick. Just seven short miles from St. Simons Island is Brunswick, Georgia. Originally settled in 1738, today Brunswick is a thriving town where historic sites provide the...

St. Simons Island summers feature two concert series where guests enjoy ocean breezes and great live music on Sunday evenings. Both guests and residents gather outside to wrap up summer weekends. Don’t miss one of the Island’s favorite summer activities! Jazz in the Park The Jazz in the Park series is sponsored by Golden Isles Arts & Humanities. Jazz in the Park is held at oceanfront Neptune Park (on the lawn...

In a recent article in Barron’s, the financial magazine reports that luxury home sales and construction are picking up in some markets. Overall, the media sales price of $1 million-plus homes dropped 3.6%, but several markets saw substantial increases. Barron’s identifies Sea Island, Georgia as the top luxury second home market. With median prices that increased 31.8% over the previous year, the Sea Island improvement bested other luxury markets like Palm...